Album Reviews

Black Focus

Peckham producer and keyboardist Kamaal Williams, otherwise known as Henry Wu, returns to his own label, Black Focus for his beautifully stylish sophomore album, Wu Hen. As showcased on his excellent instalment of !K7’s DJ-Kick’s series from last year and his always fascinating DJ performances, Williams has a very eclectic taste. Digging even deeper into his idiosyncratic musical vision, Wu Hen sees him explore his most diverse and expansive soundscape to date. Effortlessly moving through celestial jazz, funk, soul, rap and R&B, while remaining underpinned by his London-centric, beat-heavy attitude of grime, jungle, house and garage, he explores a self-styled fusion of what Williams names ‘Wu Funk.’ Cinematic strings from Miguel-Atwood Ferguson and virtuoso saxophone from Quinn Mason slide up next to frenetic breaks and synth-driven funk, as Williams’ rich, deep bass tunnels throughout. The result is a shimmering record that feels timeless and uncategorisable, defying expectations and trends. Referencing classic sounds from jazz, soul and funk give the record a widescreen, cinematic aesthetic that oozes sophistication and musicality, but there is also a distinct urgency to the record, as a sense of directness seeps up into the heady concoction of sounds. This record is a fascinating mix of classic and modern, but the two are not jostling for position, instead bringing out the best in each other. A deeper affair than previous outings, Wu Hen is Kamaal Williams’ most impressive sound to date. Tom Jones

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